Overwhelmed

I have so much homework to do over the next few weeks between papers, case studies, and blogging that I am starting to get very overwhelmed. I have trips booked almost every weekend, besides thanksgiving, up until I leave to go back to the states and I don’t know 1. Where I am going to get the money to spend when I get there. 2. How I am going to find time to both do my homework (well) and travel at the same time. I mean I guess I should’ve expected it coming here, but now that I’m finally getting overwhelmed after spending almost three months here is stressing me out. 

I’m huge on planning things out, making lists, and setting goals for myself. So hopefully I can use that trait to not only help me get all of my school work done, but also to help me give myself a better routine. I feel like I get very overwhelmed and stressed out when I don’t have a routine down and something to work towards. The only thing that has seemed to stay consistent for me (which is so sad) is going out and drinking with my friends. I am doing a good job of being able to balance everything and get my work done, but I miss working out, having me time, and feeling good about getting things done. Wasting a day hungover in bed is not my ideal “study abroad experience” and although I say it a lot I really do want to try and change it for the second half of my time in Oxford.

Registering for classes a few days ago has also added to my list of things to worry about because I didn’t end up getting all of the ones that I needed, and so now I have to send emails to a bunch of people trying to let me get into this one Human Relations class. I have to take at least two Human Relations classes next semester because I just declared it as my minor and I wont be able to graduate on time if I don’t start taking them as soon as possible. 

This blog is pretty much a vent session right now because although I am on my way to Edinburgh as we speak, I cannot thing about anything else besides my worries that I left behind in Oxford. I think that there is something about studying abroad that makes you think, a lot, all of the time. I don’t know if it’s because you’re finally away from the hustle and bustle of “real life” back in the states or what, but it’s definitely different than it was back in the states. 

The fact that we only have less than two months left here is also stressing me so bad, I feel like I’m missing something or I’m not doing everything I could be doing every day while I’m over here. I don’t ever want to leave Oxford. My friend and I were actually talking the other day about possibly moving back here after college. Not only to get away from the terrible economy that we are going to have to face in a little over a year, but so much is different here. It’s more historical, I feel as though I learn something new every day, and it’s one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The rain is probably the only down side to this little plan, but hey, a little rain never hurt anyone...

These bus stations are so much cleaner than the ones in the United States. I also noticed this about taking the Tube in London compared to taking the subway in Boston. It’s cleaning and it’s easier to navigate. I’m sure that the U.S has bus stations like this as well that can get you from state to state pretty easily, but it absolutely blows my mind that we’re about to get on a bus and travel just 7 hours to another country (well sort of, I’m not exactly sure what they consider Scotland, or what Scotland considers itself...) but anyways it blows my mind! Same thing with flying, only 2 hours and bam, you’re in another country in Europe. 

I wonder what people from England think about America when they go over there. Is it really all they expect? Is it truly “the land of opportunities”? When I used to waitress, I used to get english people in all the time, but I never thought to stop and ask what they thought about it, what the differences are, or if they were happy to be there. Of course I would ask how their trip was going, but I guess I was more concerned about earning money for my own trip that I forgot to ask them more about theirs. It’s funny how people’s perspectives on a place are all different, depending on their personal experiences there. I don’t have very many expectations for Scotland other than being excited to see my friend that I’ve known since preschool. I’m pretty much expecting something very similar to what we are used to in England. I have heard from some locals in Oxford that it’s “boring” and i’ve gotten asked a million times, “why would you want to go there” with a sort of smirk on their faces, but why wouldn’t I want to go to Scotland? I am all about trying everything once, and hey if I don’t like it, I don’t have to come back, if I do, well it will give me a reason to work towards a way of coming back.